No. I’m sorry. A car recall does not get you a brand new car. What it does get you is a replacement part, installed free, for a part that commonly goes bad on your make and model of car. Usually this is not a dangerous part; just something that malfunctions so often that the manufacturer redesigns it and installs it free on all qualifying vehicles.
Some automobile manufacturers send out notices to all registered owners of that model of vehicle. When you get the repair done, you will be taken off the mailing list. Unfortunately, in some states, that means you will get postcards or letters repeatedly for a car you may have sold years ago. If the new owner did not change the title, which may happen in a sale to a junkyard, the state still shows the title as belonging to you.
If you do not get these notices, how will you find out about recalls? Announcements may show up in newspapers or magazines. Friends may tell you about it. You may see a notice at a dealership or auto repair shop. You can also find recalls on the internet, using a search engine. If you find your make of car on the list, call your local dealer and ask for details. Chances are your own car is not involved, but if it is you can get it fixed before it causes problems. Some recalls affect less than a thousand cars of a given model.
Keep your eye on notices of class action suits as well. After a young Utah man paid several hundred dollars for a repair on his car, he saw an ad for a class-action suit against the manufacturer. He filed a claim, and though it took a few months, he was awarded over half of the repair cost. Some class action suits go nowhere, but it does not hurt to file a claim if you qualify. Recalls and class action suits help keep auto manufacturers responsible and keep our cars safe.
